Moving your plants to a new home

If you’re moving house, you may want to take a few precious plants or trees with you.

For expert advice on moving plants, Move My home spoke to Wes Fleming, Director of Fleming’s Wholesale Nurseries. Flemings has presented Australia’s Show Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show since 2004, winning 4 gold and 2 silver medals at the world’s premier garden event.

Wes is part of Australia’s Chelsea Flower Show team. This year’s entry – Trailfinders’ Australian Garden designed by Ian Barker, won a silver gilt medal.

gardening

The garden celebrates The Endeavour’s voyage of discovery with Sir Joseph Banks and the historical link between Australia and England.

Q. What general advice would you give on moving smaller plants and small to medium shrubs?

A. The bigger the root-ball you can dig out with the plant and still keep it manageable the better off it will be for replanting.

Wes Fleming and the Queen.

Q. What’s the best way to prepare plants before moving them?

A. There’s no real need for any special preparation; the most important part of any plant transplant is to make sure they are watered properly.

Q: What’s the best time of year to move a tree?

Garden Pallets

A. Usually late autumn through winter is the ideal time, as trees are generally dormant and not growing during this period. When spring approaches and new growth occurs, the tree will then be better placed to take root in its new location.

Q. What’s the best way to move a small tree?

A. Keep it simple. You can move or a 2 to 3 year old tree with a shovel. Carefully dig out as much of the root system as possible. Then place a sheet of damp Hessian underneath the tree and wrap it around the root-ball. For longer-haul moves, gently wrap and tie the Hessian around the trunk of the tree to protect the roots during the move.

Wes Fleming at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Q: What about older, bigger trees?

A: Always seek professional advice from your local nursery before moving any tree, but generally it depends of the size of the tree and what resources you have available to move it. You’ll need a crane to move a mature tree that’s say 20 metres tall. You could move a large tree without the help of professionals, but I wouldn’t recommend it – professionals have the right equipment and can give you the right advice to make it an easier process.

Q: How can you help the tree re-establish itself in its new location?

Wes Fleming at the Chelsea Flower Show.

A. Understand the water requirement of the tree. Make sure you give it enough moisture, depending on its size, but don’t go over-watering it either. The tree’s roots will generally find its way into the new soil with no negative effects.

Q. Which types of plants are most likely to survive a move and which least likely?

A. Deciduous plants generally transplant better than most evergreens, which can be a little more sensitive to a move.

Moving pot plants

Stop watering the plants a couple of days ahead to lighten the weight of the soil (if possible).

For interstate moves check state regulations for taking plants over the boarder.

Check if your removalists will move plants and if their insurance will cover them.

Box up as many pots as possible, make holes so they can breathe.

Tie up, bag, or wrap in a sheet or newspaper to protect any lose fronds/branches etc for unboxed plants or multiple plants in one box.

Take cuttings of plants you can’t move.

Remove plants from very heavy pots if the movers won’t take them as is. Put them in lighter, unbreakable pots that you can manage.

Wet, scrunched up newspaper around the leaves will help if high temperatures will be an issue.

Pack wet, scrunched up newspaper over the soil to avoid spills.

Treat plants for pests and disease before the move.

Open the boxes as soon as possible after arrival.

N.B. All advice provided in this article is of a general nature. Seek professional advice suitable to your specific requirements before moving any tree.